Why is Ethanol used as a fuel?

Ethanol is significantly less polluting than petrol because it doesn’t produce sulphur dioxide or lead emissions.Any carbon dioxide it produces can be offset by growing more sugar plants.Cars in the UK can currently run on about 10 per cent of ethanol in petrol, but the corrosive effect of ethanol means increasing levels above this can damage the engine if the necessary changes have not been made.

Availability of Ethanol.

Fueling stations that carry E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, are available in every U.S. state. Altogether, more than 900 public E85 fueling stations are available across the United States, although the majority are located in the Midwest.Compared to other EU countries, the UK Government has done little to reduce tax and introduce other financial incentives to help spread ethanol beyond a handful of sites.

Cost of supply.

A gallon of E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, usually costs about the same as a gallon of regular gasoline, although prices may vary somewhat depending on location.

Energy density of Ethanol.

Energy density is the amount of energy per mass. The greater the value the more beneficail the source is. The common unit of measurement for energy density is megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg). The energy density of ethanol is about 25 MJ/kg.A gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline, however, so you may get lower mileage with ethanol and be required to fill your tank more often, which may could to your fuel costs.With one of the highest octane ratings of any fuel, ethanol increases the energy efficiency of an engine.